FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Bernie Sanders led Joe Biden in North Dakota's caucuses as results filtered in slowly Wednesday, a last chance for the Vermont senator to salvage something from after another difficult night in the campaign.

Results were still outstanding from Fargo, the state's largest and most liberal city, as Sanders looked for a repeat of his victory four years ago. But Sanders had already lost the biggest prizes in Tuesday's six-state test, including Michigan.

Democrats got the turnout surge they wanted in North Dakota's revamped caucuses — so much so that the state party put out an urgent call for volunteers at its largest site in Fargo and allowed voters lined up there and in Grand Forks to cast ballots even after polls closed.

Voting didn't finish in those two locations until about 8 p.m. CST, an hour later than polls were supposed to close, and the party didn't begin reporting results until late Tuesday evening.

At midday, voters waited in line outside a union hall in Fargo, the state's largest and most liberal city, for as much as an hour to vote. The lines only grew when the post-work rush began, with cars waiting to turn into the parking lot or searching for a place to park on the street. Five propane heaters were set up to keep people warm in the 31-degree weather, and volunteers served coffee.

For the most part, the mood was light: One man set up a pair of small but powerful speakers on a picnic table and blasted rock music. And one voter who exited the building ran through the crowd holding up his cell phone and yelling, "You're close!'

Rick Gion, a longtime North Dakota Democrat, said he received an "all hands on deck" call from the state party chair shortly before noon on Tuesday, asking for volunteers to help with the Fargo caucus. Gion spent much of his time helping handicapped people, families with babies and other people who may not have dressed for the occasion get moved inside.

“People are so excited about getting President Trump out of office," Gion said. "The lines are long and people are being so patient.”

North Dakota shifted this year from traditional caucuses to so-called “firehouse caucuses” that work much like typical elections, with voters able to show up, cast a ballot and leave. The parties run the process, and Democrats had 14 locations statewide open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a mail-in option as well. About 250 people were still in line at Fargo when the scheduled 7 p.m. closing time hit; those people were allowed to vote and finished by about 8 p.m. Party spokesman Alex Rohr said voters in Grand Forks — home to the University of North Dakota — also weren't complete until about the same time.

“We’ve seen an exciting number of new voters and many people who need help looking up their voting districts, which adds some time to processing,” Rohr said by email. “When we saw long lines, we activated additional volunteers, staff, and equipment." The party allowed everyone in line at polls close to vote.

Fourteen pledged delegates were at stake for Sanders and Biden. With much larger prizes at stake elsewhere, neither candidate had done much in the state. President Donald Trump was unopposed in the GOP's caucuses.

Sanders won North Dakota just four years ago, clobbering Hillary Clinton in the traditional format that rewards highly organized campaigns with fervent followers willing to invest the time necessary to see the process through. The modified process was expected to be friendlier to Biden.

The limited locations and the eight-hour window for voting — less time than a traditional election and with no ability for people to vote before work — meant increased pressure on the caucus sites. Rohr said both were based on the party’s “volunteer force.” He pointed out that the party gave voters a mail-in option for people who didn’t want to or couldn’t travel significant distances to vote, or otherwise had problems.

Democrats were looking for turnout many times higher than the 3,400 people who took part in the 2016 caucuses. Despite the wait, several voters interviewed by The Associated Press said they didn't mind.

Bob Pieri, a professor at North Dakota State University and the last voter in line in Fargo when it was cut off Tuesday evening, said Democrats should be happy at the big turnout.

"They've kind of come out of the woodwork," siad Pieri, who declined to say whom he supports and gave his age only as in his 70s. "In prior elections there has hardly been anyone to populate the voting location.”

Heather Davin, 20, a student at North Dakota State University, parked half a mile away and eventually voted for Sanders, whom she said “has the most gumption in what he is talking about.”

“I am very surprised, very happy to see all these people representing the state," Davin said. "Get your exercise and get your vote.”

Connor Marchus, 20, another Sanders supporter who attends North Dakota State, also liked the revamped caucus format.

“It’s a slight inconvenience but overall when you look at the bigger picture, it’s great to have this many people vote," he said.

Linda Day, 80, of Fargo, voted for Biden.

“He is my man. I guess I’m kind of progressive but I do worry about Bernie being able to beat Trump, and I worry about Bernie having another heart attack," Day said. "The other thing is, I think Trump is very much afraid of Biden.”

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Associated Press writer Doug Glass contributed from Minneapolis.